The Miami Dolphins’ decision to cut Tyrel Dodson in the final round of roster moves landed as a surprise, especially after the linebacker’s production last season made him look like a real piece of the defense.
Dodson was claimed off waivers in the middle of 2024 and quickly proved useful in every chance he got. In 2025, he led Miami with three interceptions and finished second on the team with 129 tackles. He also added five sacks and 10 tackles for loss, ranking third and second on the Dolphins in those categories.
Even with that kind of output, Miami chose to move in another direction. The team appears to have connected the decision to the signing of its second-round pick, Jacob Rodriguez, a linebacker out of Texas Tech. With financial commitments already on the books to former players, the Dolphins did not have much room to stockpile depth, and Dodson ended up being the odd man out.
For Texas A&M fans, the release brought back memories of a player who once looked like a steady force in College Station. Dodson arrived as a three-star recruit during the Sumlin years and developed quickly into one of the most important players on the Aggie defense. He appeared in every game in 2016, starting several of them, then became a full-time starter in 2017.
That season, he led Texas A&M with 109 tackles and tied for second on the team with 11 tackles for loss. He also played a major role in Mike Elko’s first defense in Aggieland, with Elko serving as defensive coordinator in 2018 and leaning heavily on Dodson in that scheme.
One of the defining moments Aggies still remember came in the bowl game against NC State, when Texas A&M rolled to a 52-13 win. Dodson picked off a pass from the Wolfpack quarterback in the first half and returned it for a touchdown as part of the scoring surge.
His departure after just three years caught plenty of Texas A&M fans off guard, though it followed the same path as Taurean York later would. Dodson decided it was time to go pro and, like York, entered the league as an undrafted free agent. The difference is that Dodson made that jump count.
He spent years as an important part of the Buffalo Bills defense, then had a short stint with the Seattle Seahawks, where he finished as their leading tackler for the year. Miami gave him another productive stretch, but now the Dolphins have moved on.
Given what he produced last season, it would be a surprise if Dodson stayed unsigned for long. A linebacker who can pile up tackles the way he did should draw interest quickly, and it would not be shocking to see another team claim him off waivers soon.
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